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7 Amazon Fire Phone Features That Burn the Competition

This week, Jeff Bezos announced the newest product from Amazon, the Fire Phone. While Amazon used to be the best place to buy books online, they have created a multi-layer approach to connecting with their customer base via tablets (Kindle Fire), TV set devices (Fire TV) and now the Fire Phone.

Wait … doesn’t the iPhone and Galaxy rule the smart phone world? Well Amazon thinks it can compete with the big boys and has packed their new Fire phone with loads of goodies that will possibly make you think twice before you purchase your next phone.

Here are 7 Amazon Fire Phone Features That Burn the Competition

1. Sized Just Right

The screen on the Fire phone is a 4.7″ HD LCD display. This makes the Fire phone just a tad bit bigger than the iPhone 5s, which has a 4-inch screen and a little bit smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S5 which has a 5.1″ screen.

Another feature that Amazon has added to one-up it’s phone compared to others is the base model of the Fire offers 32 GB of storage, where as bother Samsung Galaxy S5 and Apple iPhone 5S base offers 16 GB.

2. Dynamic Perspective

What the Amazon phone offers that no one else is offering, is dynamic perspective. Dynamic perspective is a 3D like effect that tracks your head using 4 cameras on the front of the phone. This has huge potential to be a game-changer when it comes to things like app and game development, as it gives the user a new type of experience that’s not been done before on a phone.

I read that there is a pinball game using this technology. Pinball on the phone, in a 3D like effect? YES!

3. Firefly Technology

Since the core of Amazon is eCommerce, they, of course, needed a way to encourage shopping their site. Amazon has developed a feature on the phone called Firefly. Firefly turns the phone into a scanner that recognizes everything from books, movies, grocery products and even music (think Shazam). It can recognize over 100 million items.

Of course, the ideal end-result for Amazon is that it allows you to make a purchase, but that’s not all Firefly can do. You can scan a phone number, it can put it into your contact list. Scan art, and find an article on Wikipedia about it. We can expect a lot more out of this technology, and I’m sure Amazon can expect even more sales resulting from this as well.

4. Mayday Button

The Mayday button was introduced with latest Kindle HDX, so it’s not a new feature but it is still worth noting.

If you are having problems finding anything or doing something, help is literally just a click away. You click the button and an Amazon rep appears on your phone via video. They can control your phone and inform you how to do things.

I wish all tech products had this feature, then the parents would never call looking for tech support — I could just tell them, press the Mayday button!

5. Advanced Camera

The Fire Phone sports a 13 MP rear-facing camera and 2.1 MP front-facing camera. Video shoots at 1080p HD video recording at 30 fps (front- and rear-facing cameras). For photographs, this phone beats the pants off of the iPhone 5S that rings in at 8 MP.

6. Apps

With the dynamic perspective feature and Firefly technology it will be interesting to see where apps go with this platform.

Something to know, while the Fire phone does run on a modified Android platform — like the Amazon Kindle Fire, you can only access apps from the Amazon app store (though, there are over 150k apps to choose from!)

For a limited time, Fire phone comes with 1,000 Amazon Coins (a $10 value) for apps, games, and in-app purchases.

7. Amazon Prime

I love Amazon Prime! Amazon is offering Fire phone owners a year of Amazon Prime for free (if you already a member, they will extend your membership.)

That’s a $99 value and a service, I personally recommend if you are an avid Amazon shopper. With Amazon Prime, you receive free 2-day shipping, access to Amazon Prime video (think Netflix) and Amazon Prime music (think Spotify), as well as a plethora of other benefits.

https://youtu.be/91x3JhanUoQ/

Order Details

The Amazon Fire phone is now available for pre-order, and for purchase on July 25. Currently, you can only use it on the AT&T network.

Pricing

$199 32GB with a 2-year AT&T contract

$299 64GB with 2-year AT&T contract

$649 32GB no contract

$749 64GB no contract

Final Thoughts

Personally, I am an Apple gal. Amazon sent me their Kindle Fire HDX for review, and I have to admit — for what I use a tablet for — the Kindle Fire HDX has become my tablet of choice. I gave my iPad to the toddlers and haven’t thought twice about it. But my phone? I use my phone for everything. I am not quite convinced this could make me switch – though I do have to admit – these features are pretty cool.

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Content provided on this site is for entertainment or informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical or health, safety, legal or financial advice. Click here for additional information.